The Feb. 18 Gazette reprinted an editorial from The Lansing State Journal, criticizing Virg Bernero for running for governor while holding the full-time job of Lansing mayor.

I can’t recall the Gazette similarly criticizing Congressman Peter Hoekstra for running while continuing to hold his full-time job of representing the citizens of the 2nd Congressional District, or Attorney General Mike Cox for taking time away from enforcing our laws to run for governor, or our own Sen. Tom George for taking time away from representing the 20th Senate District.

The fact is, politicians routinely seek higher office while holding a lower office. It may not be perfect, but I can’t see another way to make use of the experience people have gained in lower office.

Do we really want all our office-holders to be neophytes? I wonder why the Gazette chose to print criticism of only one of these similarly-situated individuals?

Mark E. Miller/Kalamazoo

Census booty is unnecessary and wasteful in these tough times

Over the past few months, as I have participated in various events, I have been presented with an assortment of items designed to remind me of the Census and encourage me to participate.

I find this very interesting since participation in the Census is required by law. At any rate, so far I have received the following Census goodies: three Census tote bags (all different designs), a Census golf shirt, a Census magnet, a Census memo pad, a Census coffee mug, a Census potato chip bag clip and two Census pens.

By my estimation I have received approximately $50 worth of promotional junk to remind me to do something that is in our community’s best interest and is also a federal law and which I plan to do anyway.

My objection is to this abuse of taxpayer money, especially in light of the dire economic straits in which many in this nation find themselves. Fifty dollars would provide approximately 24 meals to the homeless at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

I am acquainted with a young single mom working a part-time job, who only gets $80 in Bridge card assistance each month. This money could be used for families like hers, to assist them in providing food for young children.

It could be used to further extend unemployment benefits for the 9,000 local residents who will lose them over the course of this year. It could go toward education, or health care for the uninsured, or even be used to patch up the potholes around town. There are thousands of better uses for this money than reminding everyone to do something they’re required to do anyway.

President Obama, you can keep the potato chip bag clip. I can get along without it — really. How about providing people with something they really need, like food, shelter or health care?

It is encouraging to know there are others who are honest enough to recognize George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are war criminals and should be prosecuted and imprisoned for their illegal acts of war.

As each “excuse” was shot down as a lie (Saddam attacked the United States, Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, etc.) they finally settled for “we will give Iraq democracy.”

“Regime change,” was the excuse Cheney recently gave.

Even if you don’t care about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis murdered or the destruction of their country; you should be concerned about the number of our boys killed, brain damaged for life, return with limbs missing and/or emotionally damaged.

There is also the cost to our economy and giving Osama bin Laden a major recruiting poster.

All this for oil. Was it worth it?

Neil Enders/Grand Rapids

Authorities must be called in wherever abuse takes place

In response to Sherrie Snyder’s letter, “Homeschooling makes it easier to hide abuse,” how did she become an expert on homeschooling laws? Laws on abuse and neglect apply to both homeschools and government schools.

As a grandfather to kids who were homeschooled, went to college, got married, and one who is currently at West Point, I will tell you they are under plenty of scrutiny from neighbors, family and skeptics in general. If all I knew about homeschooling was what someone else wrote in the newspaper, then I would probably think as the letter writer does.

Keep in mind that Calista Springer was in the public schools, the teachers, the state officials and case workers had all the information and the system failed her. Granted this is a very sad case, but how many other cases like this one are going on right now?

Homeschooling has nothing to do with this case. If abuse takes place in a homeschool or public school, the authorities have every right to intervene.

I am glad I was not called to sit on the jury for the Springer case as there was a lot to consider. We see that even those who had all the facts had a hard time reaching a verdict.

Likewise, I am glad that Sherrie Snyder is not on the jury, because I am afraid it would be the homeschooling laws and homeschoolers who would be on trial.

If we can learn anything from this tragedy, it is to be vigilant and if you see abuse and neglect, contact someone who can follow up on the situation.

While many in the public have vigorously celebrated the defeat of health care reform, their so-called victory only guarantees there will be a lot less left in everyone’s paycheck, including their own.

Every week, it seems, is a story about employees being asked to pay more for health benefits. Ten years from now, every employee can be assured they will be paying a great deal more for their benefits, if they still have them.

With 47 million currently uninsured, and 50-60 million uninsured on the way, the costs will continue to be passed along to those who have insurance.

The swelling of the uninsured, who rush to emergency rooms for care, will also put a tremendous financial strain on hospitals — and jeopardize care available for those with insurance.

Without substantial health reform, it won’t be an opportune time to own a business dependent on discretionary income. It will be harder for small companies to offer insurance to employees, and maybe even harder to find customers freely able to spend.

Two-thirds of the US economy is driven by consumer consumption — people buying things. With consumers carrying an ever-heavier burden of health care, it will be difficult to sustain a stable economy. In addition, skyrocketing health care costs will provide corporations added incentive to send jobs overseas.

So, for anyone who depends on a paycheck to survive, another failed attempt at health care reform is hardly worth celebrating.